Positive Computed Tomography Scan Research Articles

A-094 Performance Evaluation of GFAP and UCH-L1 Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury in the Alinity i TBI Test (in development)

Abstract Background Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has been recognized as an important cause of death and disability and is a growing public health problem. An estimated 69 million people globally experience a TBI annually. Blood-based biomarkers such as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) have shown utility to predict acute traumatic intracranial injury on head CT scan after TBI. Methods The Alinity i TBI test is a panel of in vitro diagnostic chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays for the measurement of GFAP and UCH-L1 in plasma and serum. Performance characteristics such as detection limits, imprecision, linearity, measuring interval, expected values, and interferences were established following CLSI guidance. A feasibility cohort of 354 subjects was used to establish cutoffs which assist in determining the need for a CT (computed tomography) scan of the head. A prospective study was conducted to assess the clinical performance of the TBI test. Fresh plasma specimens from 97 mild TBI subjects presenting to Level I trauma centers were collected within 12 h of injury from subjects ≥18 years of age who presented with suspected TBI and had a head CT scan performed. The TBI interpretation is considered positive if either GFAP or UCH-L1 is greater than or equal to the cutoffs. The TBI interpretation is considered negative if both GFAP and UCH-L1 are less than the cutoffs. Results The analytical measuring interval (AMI) extends from the limit of quantitation (LoQ) to the upper LoQ and is determined by the range that demonstrates acceptable performance for linearity, imprecision, and bias. The AMI is 6.1 to 42 000.0 pg/mL for GFAP and 26.3 to 25 000.0 pg/mL for UCH-L1. Within-laboratory imprecision (20 day) ranged from 2.8% to 5.3% CV for GFAP and 2.1% to 5.6% CV for UCH-L1. Cutoffs for GFAP and UCH-L1 of 35.0 pg/mL and 400.0 pg/mL, respectively, were selected using both 10-fold cross validation and bootstrapping methods and applying a selection criterion of negative predictive value (NPV) (prevalence adjusted) ≥99% and Sensitivity ≥96%. Of the 97 mild TBI subjects evaluated, 14 had positive head CT scan results. All 14 of the subjects with positive head CT results had a positive TBI interpretation (Sensitivity 100.0%; 95% CI:78.5%,100.0%). There were 23 subjects with a negative TBI interpretation, all 23 had a negative head CT scan result. The NPV of the test was 100% (95% CI:85.7%,100.0%). Conclusion The Alinity i TBI test shows robust analytical performance across a broad concentration range of GFAP and UCH-L1 and may serve as a valuable tool to help evaluate TBI patients across the spectrum of mild to severe injury. The established cutoffs were evaluated in a prospective cohort of mild TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13–15) subjects and demonstrated high sensitivity and NPV relative to CT scan results, supporting the utility to rule out the need for CT scan in mild TBI subjects presenting to the emergency department. FUNDING: This work is in collaboration with the US Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, US Army Medical Research and Development Command CRADA 20-1266-CRA.

A-093 Clinical Performance of Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Background An estimated 5 million people are evaluated in emergency departments (ED) for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the United States each year. The vast majority (80%) of patients evaluated for TBI in the ED will receive head CT scans, however less than 10% of those will have any findings of acute traumatic abnormalities. This highlights the need for objective, rapid, accurate tools to help clinicians evaluate and triage TBI patients and reduce unnecessary radiation exposure. The Alinity i TBI test is a panel of in vitro diagnostic chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays used to measure glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) in human plasma and serum. TBI performance was evaluated in a multi-center study by performing reproducibility and a pivotal study. Methods A pivotal study using prospectively collected archived (frozen) plasma specimens was conducted to establish the clinical performance of the TBI test on the Alinity i system. The testing of the archived specimens was performed at three clinical sites in the United States. The specimens tested were originally collected in a prospective, multi-center clinical study and were from individuals 18 years of age or older who presented to a health care facility or emergency department with suspected traumatic brain injury. These subjects had an initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13–15 and had a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head performed per the clinical site’s standard of care. Reproducibility was assessed using multiple panel/control members for 5 days based on guidance from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute EP05-A3. Testing was conducted using 3 lots of GFAP and UCH-L1 reagents, and 1 Alinity i system at each of 3 testing sites. Results Of the 1899 mild TBI subjects, 120 had positive head CT scan results; 116 of the 120 specimens had a positive TBI interpretation (Sensitivity 96.7%;95%CI:91.7%,98.7%). Of the 1779 subjects with negative CT scan results, 713 had a negative TBI interpretation (Specificity 40.1%;95%CI:37.8%,42.4%). The negative predictive value (NPV) of the test was 99.4% (713/717, 95%CI:98.6%,99.8%). Within-Laboratory imprecision (includes repeatability, between-run, and between-day variance components) results ranged from 2.2% to 3.5% CV for GFAP and 1.8 to 3.2 %CV for UCH-L1. The Overall Reproducibility (includes repeatability, between-run, between-day, between-lot, between-site, and site-lot interaction variance components) results ranged from 2.5% to 4.7% CV for GFAP and 2.6 to 6.6 %CV for UCH-L1. Conclusion The Alinity i TBI clinical performance results demonstrated that the TBI test is characterized by high sensitivity and high NPV, which supports the clinical utility to assist in determining the need for a CT scan of the head in subjects presenting with suspected mild TBI. The GFAP and UCH-L1 assays demonstrated acceptable reproducibility across a wide dynamic range. These assays can report results within 18 min and be conveniently loaded into the Electronic Health Records to aid clinicians in their triage (or imaging) decisions. Funding The study was funded by Abbott Laboratories and in collaboration with the US Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, US Army Medical Research and Development Command CRADA 20-1266-CRA.

Correlation of clinical features with neuroimaging in children with mild head injury.

Mild head injury is defined as a pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13-15 at admission following head trauma. There are no clear indications for neuroimaging in such children. The aim of our study was to analyze the correlation of symptoms commonly encountered following mild head injury with any abnormality on the computed tomography (CT) scan. This is a retrospective and observational study done in a tertiary care hospital. Records of all the children fulfilling the inclusion criteria were retrieved. Demographic details such as age, gender, and type of injury (hit by a blunt object, fall from height, and road traffic accident), symptoms such as presence and number of episodes of vomiting, presence and duration of loss of consciousness (LOC), presence of drowsiness, headache, giddiness, seizures, focal deficits and the GCS score, and CT scan findings were noted in a predesigned proforma. A CT scan with any of the following abnormalities such as skull fracture, cerebral edema, intracranial bleed (epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, intracerebral hematoma, and subarachnoid hemorrhage), and cerebral contusion was considered as abnormal. Any neurosurgical intervention done was also noted. A total of 134 children in the age group of 1 month to 18 years with mild head injury were included in this study. The median (interquartile range) age of the children was 5 (2, 8) years, with majority being males. Road traffic accidents (34.3%) were the most common cause of injury, followed by fall from lesser than 3 feet height (31.3%). The most common symptoms were vomiting (43.6%), scalp/facial abrasions (37.2%), and LOC (31.9%). CT scan was abnormal in 53.7% of the cases, with skull fracture (35.1%) being the most common finding, followed by cerebral edema (13.4%). Among all the symptoms, ear/nosebleed or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea/rhinorrhea had a statistically significant association with a positive CT scan with P = 0.05 and an odds ratio of 1.4 (95% confidence interval, 1-1.9). Children with mild head injury presenting with clinical features such as bleeding from the ear or nose and CSF otorrhea/rhinorrhea are more likely to have an abnormal CT scan. Hence, such children require close neurological observation and prompt intervention if necessary. However, abnormality on CT scan cannot be reliably ruled out based on the symptoms alone.

Analysis of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage and delayed traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in patients with isolated head injury on anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy.

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet (ACAP) agents are increasingly and frequently used, especially in the elderly. The present study was carried out to assess the prevalence of delayed traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (dtICH) after a normal result on an initial head computed tomography (CT) in adults who were taking ACAP medication. The present retrospective included all adult patients who arrived in the emergency department between January 2017 and January 2021 with a history of fall from the patient's own height, while being on ACAP medication with an isolated head injury. The Institutional Review Board approved the study with a waiver of consent. The primary outcome measures were prevalence of dtICH in patients who had initial normal CT scan brain and were on ACAP medication. There were 2137 patients on ACAP medication, of which 1062 were male, and 1075 were of the female gender. The mean age of the patients was 82.1 years. About 8.2% had positive first CT scans (176/2137), while 0.023 (27/1149) had dtICH. The most common positive finding on the CT scan was subarachnoid hemorrhage followed by subdural hemorrhage. Male gender positively correlated with increased risk for first CT being positive (P = 0.033). Patient's with comorbidity of cirrhosis and chemotherapy had higher risk of dtICH (P = 0.47, 0.011). There was a very low (0.023%) prevalence of dtICH. Dual therapy or Coumadin therapy made up the majority of tICH. Cirrhosis and chemotherapy were associated with the risk of a repeat CT scan being positive with an initial CT scan negative.

Computed Tomography Lesions and Their Association With Global Outcome in Young People With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can be accompanied by structural damage to the brain. Here, we investigated how the presence of intracranial traumatic computed tomography (CT) pathologies relates to the global functional outcome in young patients one year after mTBI. All patients with mTBI (Glasgow Coma Scale: 13-15) ≤24 years in the multi-center, prospective, observational Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in TBI (CENTER-TBI) study were included. Patient demographics and CT findings were assessed at admission, and the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) was evaluated at 12 months follow-up. The association between a "positive CT" (at least one of the following: epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH), intraventricular hemorrhage, subdural collection mixed density, contusion, traumatic axonal injury) and functional outcome (GOSE) was assessed using multi-variable mixed ordinal and logistic regression models. A total of 462 patients with mTBI and initial brain CT from 46 study centers were included. The median age was 19 (17-22) years, and 322 (70%) were males. CT imaging showed a traumatic intracranial pathology in 171 patients (37%), most commonly tSAH (48%), contusions (40%), and epidural hematomas (37%). Patients with a positive CT scan were less likely to achieve a complete recovery 12 months post-injury. The presence of any CT abnormality was associated with both lower GOSE scores (odds ratio [OR]: 0.39 [0.24-0.63]) and incomplete recovery (GOSE <8; OR: 0.41 [0.25-0.68]), also when adjusted for demographical and clinical baseline factors. The presence of intracranial traumatic CT pathologies was predictive of outcome 12 months after mTBI in young patients, which might help to identify candidates for early follow-up and additional care.

Sensitivity and Specificity of US and CT as Diagnostic Tools for Pediatric Lateral Neck Abscesses

Ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) are commonly used in the diagnosis of pediatric neck abscesses. The objective of this study is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of US and CT in the diagnosis of pediatric lateral neck abscesses, with a secondary objective of evaluating the association of specific clinical features with a positive US or CT scan. Retrospective review of pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary care center from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020, with neck abscesses. Tertiary care center. The sensitivity and specificity of US and CT were calculated by comparing imaging performed within 24 hof incision and drainage (I&D). Multiple regression was used to evaluate the association of clinical features with a true positive US or CT. There were 171 patients included in this study, with a median age of 1.5 years (interquartile range[IQR]: 1-5 years). I&D was done in 156 patients (91.2%), while 15 (8.8%) were treated with antibiotics. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of US were 69.5%, 80%, 96.6%, and 24.2%. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of neck CT were 95.5%, 80%, 95.5%, and 57.1%. Length of symptoms, skin erythema, and fluctuance were not significantly associated with a positive US (F(3, 82) = 0.24, p = .9, R2 = 0.01) or CT scan (F(3, 30) = 0.84, p = .5, R2 = 0.08). Neck US has a low sensitivity for diagnosing pediatric neck abscesses, when compared to CT, but remains a useful initial investigation given its high PPV. Clinicians should have a low threshold for pursuing CT if there is a high suspicion of abscess formation. Level 4.

Determining the value of early measurement of interleukin-10 in predicting the absence of brain lesions in CT scans of patients with mild traumatic brain injury

Blood-based biomarkers were recently proposed as predictors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes. This would be a critical step forward since the majority of TBI events are mild and structural brain damage in this group may be missed by current brain imaging methods. We sought to determine the performance of early measurement of interleukin-10 (IL-10) to distinguish computed tomography (CT)-positive from negative patients with mild TBI. We designed a single-center prospective observational study, which enrolled consecutive patients classed with mild TBI according to Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] scores and appearance of at least one clinical symptom. Serum IL-10 levels were measured <3 h post hospital admission. The performance of IL-10 levels in correctly classifying patients was evaluated. IL-10 levels were significantly higher in the group with positive CT scans (p < 0.001). With sensitivity set at 100%, the specificity of IL-10 was only 38.1%. However, the specificities of IL-10 for prediction of negative and positive cases increased to 59% and 49%, respectively, when both parameters were assessed within 90 min of admission. For mild TBI patients between 36 and 66 years, classification performance increased significantly at the 100% sensitivity level with a specificity of 93%. Our results suggest that IL-10 may be an easily accessible clinically useful diagnostic biomarker that can distinguish between mild TBI patients with and without structural brain damage with higher effectiveness when lower times of blood sampling are employed and patients are between 36 and 66 years of age.

Incidence and Distribution of Various Arterial Territories Involved in Postoperative Neurological Complications in Patients Undergoing Cardiovascular Surgery: A Single Centre Retrospective Analysis

Background: Neurological complications (NCs) (stroke) remain a devastating complication after cardiovascular surgical procedures despite advances in perioperative monitoring and management. The incidence of NC related to cardiovascular surgeries (CS) is comparatively very high and associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the overall incidence of neurological complications in adult as well as pediatric patients and various pattern of neurological injury on noncontrast computed tomography head (NCCT) associated with various types of CS. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all the NCCT heads of the postoperative cardiovascular surgery patients done in the immediate and early postoperative period (&lt;7 days) who developed postoperative neurological deficits between April 2016 and February 2020. The medical records of all these cardiac surgery patients were analyzed for various variants such as the total number of patients who underwent CS, various types of cardiac surgery done during the study period, demographic information, associated comorbidities, various types of NC, postoperative data and various spectrum of computed tomography (CT) findings in the brain. Results: A total of 12,896 adult and pediatric cardiac surgeries were performed at our institute. Out of these, 1115 patients (8.6%) underwent CT brain for suspected neurological injury. A total of 215 patients (1.6%) had a positive finding on their NCCT head. Out of 215 patients, 148 (68.9%) were adult patients, whereas 67 (31.1%) were pediatric patients. A total of 156 (72.5%) patients had ischemic infarction (stroke), whereas hemorrhagic lesions were present in 59 patients (27.4%). The various types of positive CT scan findings were-156 ischemic infarcts (72.5%), 20 intraparenchymal hemorrhages (9.3%), 16 subdural hemorrhage (7.4%), 15 subarachnoid hemorrhage (6.9%), 01 cerebrovascular thrombosis (0.4%), and 07 intraventricular hemorrhage (3.2%). In an adult patient, pattern of ischemic infarct comprised middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory in 42 patients (41.5%), posterior territory in 34 patients (33.6%), anterior cerebral territory in seven patients (7.0%), multi-territory infracts in 11 patients (11.0%) and global ischemia in six patients (6.0%). Intraparenchymal hemorrhage was present in 17 patients (11.4%). In a pediatric subset of patient, the pattern of ischemic infarct included global hypoxic injury (GHI) in 30 patients (54.5%), posterior cerebral artery territory in nine patients (16.3%), MCA territory in eight patients (14.5%), multi-territory involvement in five patients (9.0%), and anterior cerebral artery territory in three patients (5.4%). In the hemorrhage group, five patients (7.4%) developed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Conclusion: In an adult patient, subset MCA territory infarcts were common in the infract group, whereas intra parenchymal haemorrhage (IPH) in the hemorrhage group. In the pediatric patient subset, GHI was common in infract group and SAH in hemorrhage group. Moreover, NCCT of the head is very useful in diagnosing early postoperative neurological complications in cardiovascular surgeries and managing the complications accordingly.

The severity of clinical symptoms and paranasal sinuses CT-scan finding in COVID-19 patients in Kirkuk Province

Introduction: COVID-19, first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019, fast spread across the globe, causing a pandemic affecting many countries around the world. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the severity of clinical features and paranasal sinuses computed tomography (CT)-scan findings in COVID-19 patients and find the relationship between smoking and severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was achieved on a cohort of 399 patients, who clinically suffer from COVID-19 symptoms. The collected data for those patients included COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, presence of the IgG and IgM antigens, and paranasal sinuses CT-scan images. Results: This was a cross-sectional study of 399 patients infected with COVID-19. The mean age of the patients was 39 ± 11 years. Approximately 53.6% of them were males, whereas 46.4% were females. 55.6% of them performed CT scan for sinuses. 28.6% of the patients were with severe clinical features. 51.1% of them were smoking. 77.4% of them were of positive PCR, 57.9% positive IgG, and 86.7% positive IgM. 27.8% of patients were of the age group of 40–49 years. There was a significant association between the severity of COVID infection and age group. There was a significant association between the severity of COVID infection and sinus CT-scan findings. There was a significant association between the severity of COVID infection and positive PCR. There was a significant association between the severity of COVID infection and positive IgM. There was a significant association between smoking and sinus CT-scan findings. Conclusion: At the time of COVID infection, the severity of infection ranged from mild to moderate. More severe infection with COVID-19 associated with significant finding in sinus CT scan in patients at age group 50–59 years, and sinus also more severe COVID infection associate with positive CT scan finding that occur more in smocking patients.

Multicenter and prospective trial of anti-epileptics for early seizure prevention in mild traumatic brain injury with a positive computed tomography scan.

Background: Posttraumatic seizures (PTSs) are a major source of disability after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines recommend prophylactic anti-epileptics (AEDs) for early PTS in severe TBI, but high-quality evidence is lacking in mild TBI.Methods: To determine the benefit of administering prophylactic AEDs, we performed a prospective and multicenter study evaluating consecutive patients who presented to a Level 1 trauma center from January 2017 to December 2020. We included all patients with mild TBI defined as Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 13–15 and a positive head computed tomography (CT). Patients were excluded for previous seizure history, current AED use, or a neurosurgical procedure. Patients were given a prophylactic 7-day course of AEDs on a week-on versus week-off basis and followed with in-person clinic visits, in-hospital evaluation, or a validated phone questionnaire.Results: Four hundred and ninety patients were enrolled, 349 (71.2%) had follow-up, and 139 (39.8%) were given prophylactic AEDs. There was no difference between seizure rates for the prophylactic AED group (0.7%) and those without (2.9%; P = 0.25). Patients who had a PTS were on average older (81.4 years) than patients without a seizure (64.8 years; P = 0.02). Seizure rate increased linearly by age groups: <60 years old (0%); 60–70 years old (1.7%); 70–80 years old (2.3%); and >80 years old (4.6%).Conclusion: Prophylactic AEDs did not provide a benefit for PTS reduction in mild TBI patients with a positive CT head scan.

Vibrational Spectroscopy for the Triage of Traumatic Brain Injury Computed Tomography Priority and Hospital Admissions.

Computed tomography (CT) brain imaging is routinely used to support clinical decision-making in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Only 7% of scans, however, demonstrate evidence of TBI. The other 93% of scans contribute a significant cost to the healthcare system and a radiation risk to patients. There may be better strategies to identify which patients, particularly those with mild TBI, are at risk of deterioration and require hospital admission. We introduce a blood serum liquid biopsy that utilizes attenuated total reflectance (ATR)-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with machine learning algorithms as a decision-making tool to identify which patients with mild TBI will most likely present with a positive CT scan. Serum samples were obtained from patients (n = 298) patients who had acquired a TBI and were enrolled in CENTER-TBI and from asymptomatic control patients (n = 87). Injury patients (all severities) were stratified against non-injury controls. The cohort with mild TBI was further examined by stratifying those who had at least one CT abnormality against those who had no CT abnormalities. The test performed exceptionally well in classifications of patients with mild injury versus non-injury controls (sensitivity = 96.4% and specificity = 98.0%) and also provided a sensitivity of 80.2% when stratifying mild patients with at least one CT abnormality against those without. The results provided illustrate the test ability to identify four of every five CT abnormalities and show great promise to be introduced as a triage tool for CT priority in patients with mild TBI.

Diagnostic Accuracy of CT Scans in Blunt Abdomical Trauma

Background and Aim: Blunt abdominal trauma may lead to a serious situation that necessitates prompt diagnosis and treatment. The intra-abdominal injury effective diagnosis is difficult in patient’s management in such cases. The present study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography scans in active internal bleeding following abdominal trauma. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 84 blunt abdominal trauma patients in the Department of Radiology Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar for duration of six months from January 2021 to June 2021. All the patients with no clinical manifestations underwent diagnostic CT scans. Those who had a positive CT scan underwent laparotomy. The remaining patients were monitored for 24 hours and were discharged in case of no serious issues. Demographic details, patient information, trauma mechanism, CT scan indications, and findings, and laparotomy results were recorded. Regarding injured organs, specificity, sensitivity, and diagnostic accuracy of CT scans were determined. For individual cases, CT scans specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy were calculated. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Results: This study included 84 patients, out of which 73 (86.9%) were male and 11(13.1%) were female. Patients aged 20-40 years were more prevalent 47 (56%), followed by those aged over 40 years were 20 (23.8%) and 10 to 19 years old were 17 (20.2%). Liver and spleen injuries had the highest CT scan sensitivity of 87.5% and 96.7% respectively. On the other hand, The CT scan's specificity was high in the injured kidneys (94%) and retroperitoneal hematoma 97.3% compared to other organ’s injuries. The diagnostic accuracy of CT scans in the identification of liver, kidney injuries, spleen, and retroperitoneal hematoma injuries was 93.7%, 92.3%, 96.2%, and 92.3% respectively. Conclusion: Our study found that CT scans are capable of detecting a wide range of injuries. CT scans are exceptionally valuable for assessing blunt abdominal injuries with active internal bleeding patients Furthermore, CT investigation is quick and extensively accessible. CT can produce high-resolution images with MPR and scanning protocol. Keywords: Diagnostic Accuracy; Abdominal Trauma Injuries, Computed Tomography (CT)

USE OF DEEP LEARNING TO DIAGNOSE COVID-19 BASED ON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGES

The newly identified Coronavirus pneumonia, later called COVID-19, is highly transmissible and pathogenic. The most common symptoms of this disease are dry cough, sore throat, and fever. Symptoms can progress to a severe form of pneumonia with critical complications, including septic shock, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multiple organ failure. A major obstacle in controlling the spread of this disease is the inefficiency and scarcity of medical tests. Increasing efforts have been made to develop deep learning (DL) methods to diagnose COVID-19 based on tomography images. These computer-aided diagnostic systems can assist in the early detection of abnormalities in COVID-19 and facilitate the monitoring of disease progression, potentially reducing mortality rates. In this study, we compared the popular resource extraction structures based on deep learning for the automatic classification of COVID-19. To obtain a more precise method, which is an essential learning component, a set of deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) was chosen to train our model. The performance of the proposed method was validated using a COVID-19 dataset with computed tomography (CT) images. This dataset is available to the public and contains hundreds of positive CT scans for the disease. DL methods were performed and the best classified CNN was able to achieve excellent diagnostic results for COVID-19.

The utility of a second head CT scan after a negative initial CT scan in head trauma patients on new direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)

BackgroundNew direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are commonly used in the management of atrial fibrillation and VTE. Currently, there is no strong evidence to support the current practice of routinely repeating computed tomography (CT) head in anticoagulated patients within 24 hours after their first negative CT scan to assess for new and delayed intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Our hypothesis is that the vast majority will not have new CT scan findings of ICH and those who do would not require any further intervention. MethodsThis is retrospective cohort study. IRB approval was obtained. Subjects included adults age ≥ 18 taking DOACs who presented to our level III trauma center with confirmed or suspected blunt head trauma between August 2013 and October 2019 and received at least one head CT scans. Results498 Patient encounters met inclusion criteria. Only 19 patients (3.8%) had positive traumatic ICH on the initial CT head. Those had a higher ISS. 420 out of 479 initial negative CT encounters received a second CT head. Only 2 (0.5%) had delayed positive second CT scan for ICH. 95%CI [0.06%, 1.7%] Patients who developed a new ICH on the second CT head after an initial negative CT scan had a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on presentation and a higher ISS. None of those patients required neurosurgical intervention ConclusionOur data suggests that the risk of developing a new or delayed traumatic ICH for patients on DOAC on a second CT head within 24 hours following an initial negative CT is very low and when present did not require neurosurgical intervention and thus does not support routinely obtaining a repeat CT head within 24 hours after a negative initial CT scan. Patients presenting with lower GCS and higher ISS had a higher chance of having a delayed ICH.

Computerized tomographic brain findings of CNS manifestations in HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAARTS treatment

Background: Despite current availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in our hospital, neurologic complications of HIV are common. Aim: The aim of this study was to document brain computed tomography (CT) findings in HIV patients receiving HAART who developed neurological complications and to examine the relationship of these findings with CD4 cell counts. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with central nervous system symptoms out of 200 HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART at the HIV Clinic of Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, were retrospectively studied. The findings were reviewed alongside their clinical features, CD4 + count, and HAART history. Results: CT findings were positive in 12 (60%) of the patients, while no abnormality was seen in 8 (40%). The most common brain abnormality was atrophy (35%). Two out of five patients (40%) with CD4 counts &gt;200 had abnormal CT findings compared with 9 out of 14 patients (64%) with CD4 counts &lt;200 cells who had CT abnormalities. This finding was statistically significant (R = 0.864, P = 0.00). Conclusion: There is high incidence of neurological complications and positive brain CT scan among the patients who defaulted from HAART treatment and with CD4 cell counts of &lt;200 cells/microliter.

Diagnostic utility of computed tomography in patients presenting to the emergency department with unintended weight loss

Unintended weight loss (UWL) is a common presenting symptom in the emergency department (ED) with several etiologies. Our study looks to evaluate the diagnostic utility of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of UWL in the ED. We identified all patients who underwent CT of the chest, abdomen, or pelvis in the ED at our institution for the diagnosis of UWL from 2004 to 2020 and retrospectively reviewed their clinical history and imaging. CT findings were organized into 4 types: (1) definite cause for UWL identified, (2) possible findings for UWL, (3) incidental findings unrelated to UWL, and (4) normal scan. Associations between clinical and laboratory findings with positive CT scans were also examined. One hundred seventy-three eligible patients were identified; 40 patients were excluded due to history of malignancy or inadequate follow-up. One hundred thirty-three patients were included in the final cohort. Overall, the most common causes of UWL were non-malignant gastrointestinal (GI) conditions (n = 41, 30%) and cancer (n = 30, 23%). True-positive CT findings were identified in 48.8% of patients (65/133). Elevated white blood cell counts (p = <0.0001) and physical exam abnormalities (p = 0.02) were both significantly associated with CT abnormalities. The use of CT scanning in the evaluation of UWL in the ED yielded a diagnosis in approximately half of all cases, indicating good diagnostic value. The most common causes of UWL were non-malignant GI conditions and cancer in this cohort.

Risk factors for positive brain CT scan in children with traumatic brain injury and GCS = 15: A retrospective study.

It is controversial whether it is necessary to carry out head computed tomography (CT) examination for children who had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) but are conscious (Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) = 15). The present study explored the risk/predictive factors of positive CT results in children with mild closed head injury and GCS = 15.This was a retrospective study of children (0–18 years of age) with TBI and GCS = 15 and treated at the First People's Hospital of Wenling between 06/2013 and 06/2018. The outcome was a positive head plain CT result. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the factors independently associated with positive CT results.A total of 279 children were included. The majority of the injured were boys (180/279, 64.5%). The top three causes of injury were traffic accidents (100/279, 35.8%), falling from height (92/279, 33.0%), and tumble (72/279, 25.8%). The top three clinical symptoms were headache (201/279, 72.0%), scalp hematoma (133/279, 47.7%), and nausea with or without vomiting (105/279, 37.6%). The multivariable analysis showed that scalp hematoma (OR = 3.040, 95%CI: 1.791–5.159, P < .0001), ear and nostril bleeding or periorbital soft tissue contusion (OR = 2.234, 95%CI: 1.087–4.590, P = .029), and nausea with or without vomiting (OR = 2.186, 95%CI: 1.255–3.810, P = .006) were independently associated with positive results of head CT.For children with TBI and GCS = 15, the factors independently associated with positive CT results are scalp hematoma, ear and nostril bleeding or periorbital soft tissue contusion, and nausea with or without vomiting.

Diagnostic modalities to determine ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt malfunction is an emergency. Timely diagnosis can be challenging because shunt malfunction often presents with symptoms mimicking other common pediatric conditions. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine which commonly used imaging modalities; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), X-ray Shunt series or Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter (ONSD) ultrasound, are superior in evaluating shunt malfunction. patients less than 21years old with symptoms of shunt malfunction. We calculated the pooled sensitivity, specificity, Likelihood Ratios (LR+, LR-) using a random-effects model. Eight studies were included encompassing 1906 patients with a prevalence of VP shunt malfunction of (29.3%). Shunt series: sensitivity (14%-53%), specificity (99%), LR+ (23.2), and LR- (0.47-0.87). CT scan: sensitivity (53%-100%), specificity (27%-98%), LR+ (1.34-22.87), LR- (0.37). MRI: sensitivity (57%), specificity (93%), LR+ (7.66), and LR- (0.49). ONSD: sensitivity (64%), specificity (22%-68%), LR+ (4.4-8.7), LR- (0.93). A positive shunt series, CT scan, MRI, or ONSD has a post-test probability of (23%-84%). A normal shunt series, CT scan, MRI, or ONSD results in a post-test probability of (7%-31%). A positive shunt series results in a post-test probability of 80%, which is equivalent to the post-test probability of CT scan (23-84%) and MRI (83%). Despite the low sensitivity, a positive shunt series obviates the need for further imaging studies. Prompt referral for neurosurgical intervention is recommended. A negative shunt series or any result (positive or negative) from CT, MRI, or ONSD will still require an emergent neurosurgical referral.

Features of extrahepatic metastasis after radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUNDExtrahepatic metastasis (EHM) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with poor outcomes. However, the clinical features and risk factors of EHM of HCC after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) remain unclear.AIMTo elucidate the characteristics and risk factors of EHM after RFA for HCC.METHODSFrom January 2008 to December 2017, we retrospectively enrolled 661 patients who underwent RFA as first-line treatment for HCC at 2 tertiary hospitals. The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years, a diagnosis of HCC, and treatment-naivety. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and alpha-fetoprotein measurements were routinely performed at 1 mo after RFA and followed-up at intervals of 3-6 mo. Univariate analyses were performed using the chi-squared test or Student’s t-test, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed via logistic regression, as appropriate.RESULTSEHM was diagnosed in 44 patients (6.7%) during a median follow-up period of 1204 days. The 10-year cumulative rate of HCC recurrence and EHM was 92.7% and 33.7%, respectively. Initial recurrence was most often intrahepatic, and the rate of extrahepatic recurrence at initial recurrence was only 1.2%. The median time to the diagnosis of EHM was 2.68 years, and 68.2% of patients developed EHM within 2 years of the first recurrence, regardless of recurrence-free survival and 75.0% of patients developed EHM within 5 years after first recurrence. EHM was mostly diagnosed via abdominal CT/MRI in 33 (75.0%) and 38 of 44 patients (86.4%) with EHM had either positive abdominal CT scan results or serum AFP level elevation. In multivariate analysis, recurrence-free survival < 2 years, ablation zone/tumor size < 2, and alpha-fetoprotein level > 400 IU/mL were associated with a high EHM risk.CONCLUSIONEHM occurs following multiple intrahepatic recurrences after RFA and combined contrast-enhanced abdominal CT and serum AFP were useful for surveillance. Patients especially with high-risk factors require close follow-up for EHM.

Correlation between Chest Computed Tomography and Lung Ultrasonography in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

There is growing evidence regarding chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) findings for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At present, the role of lung ultrasonography (LUS) has yet to be explored. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between LUS findings and chest CT in patients confirmed to have (positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]) or clinically highly suspected of having (dyspnea, fever, myasthenia, gastrointestinal symptoms, dry cough, ageusia or anosmia) COVID-19. This prospective study was carried out in the emergency department, where patients confirmed of having or clinically highly suspected of having COVID-19 were recruited and underwent chest CT and concurrent LUS exam. An experienced emergency department physician performed the LUS exam blind to the clinical history and results of the CT scan, which were reviewed by two radiologists in consensus for signs compatible with COVID-19 (bilateral ground-glass opacities in peripheral distribution). A compatible LUS exam was considered a bilateral pattern of B-lines, irregular pleural line and subpleural consolidations. Between March and April 2020, 51 patients were consecutively enrolled. The indication for CT was a negative or indeterminate RT-PCR test (49.0%) followed by suspicion of pulmonary embolism (41.2%). Radiologic signs compatible with COVID-19 were present in 37 patients (72.5%) on CT scan and 40 patients (78.4%) on LUS exam. The presence of LUS findings was correlated with a positive CT scan suggestive of COVID-19 (odds ratio: 13.3, 95% confidence interval: 4.5–39.6, p < 0.001) with a sensitivity of 100.0%, specificity of 78.6%, positive predictive value of 92.5% and negative predictive value of 100.0%. There was no missed diagnosis of COVID-19 with LUS compared with CT in our cohort. The correlation between LUS score and CT total severity score was good (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.803, 95% confidence interval: 0.60–0.90, p < 0.001). LUS exhibited similar accuracy compared with chest CT in the detection of lung abnormalities in COVID-19 patients.